I Scored Myself A Mate

Theseus stood at the back of the room, hiding in the shadow the sun cast while it entered from the windows. He was always there, standing, waiting and listening. All of his life he had been in the background, a very faint detail that people usually missed or were scared of because he looked ominous and aggressive. Theseus always stood tall, his back touching the cold walls, hands crossed over his chest while he hid from the blinding lights. The prince was never meant to appear to the light, he never learnt how to not be bothered by the sun while the comfort of the shadows, his only friends, as time had passed was turning out to be more comforting as the years passed.??

He always looked Allias from the back as he stood and shone in front of the crowds, as his smile charmed thousands of people or how his powers made everyone before him tremble. Allias fitted the shine of the blinding light so well, making it seem almost as if the sun was made for him. It had always been like this. From the very start. Allias stood in the light while he lingered in the shadows, detached from this world, listening to the whispers of his magic, consumed by an unknown fear.??

Theseus could be funny, he could be smart and he could be charming too. He could be everything really, he was outstanding, especially in his king's eyes but it seemed like that part of himself was always kept in, deep inside only for Allias to see. Some may think of it as romantic, as a very unique gesture of a fateful love but the harsh truth was that Theseus' life had always been very lonesome. He was named the ice king, the mad shadowcaster and many more but none of his nicknames seemed to describe a good person, someone who was wanted. After Allias' return he had retrieved in the darkness again, almost like a stone guard, he stood at the back, watching after him.??

The dark prince did not mind. He had never questioned the way he lived or why he had been that way all his life. It was just who he was. Someone outstanding and strong who always seemed to fade in the background. He was satisfied by seeing Allias thrive, his smile was his joy so even if the people detested him, even if Allias' friends were afraid of him it didn't matter. Allias knew and that was enough.Theseus had decided to keep his life like this, embraced by the familiar warmth of his shadows, happy in his little spot close to the wall, away from everyone and everything. Allias though had different plans.??

Once everyone was gone, Luke, Mikael and his human girlfriend, Alexander with the gods, the palace seemed to quiet down a bit. There was a stillness in the air, a moment of complete silence and Allias enjoyed it more than he believed he would. He wanted moments like these, where everything seemed to be okay, with no problems. One chapter closed peacefully while he as the writer of his own story prepared for the next one. As he stood at the gates of his palace, greeting every single one of his guests, bidding them goodbye as he should because he was the king, he realized that Theseus was not by his side. He had been preoccupied, dealing with the mess the wolves had brought to his home that he had little time to talk to him. After they were finally gone Allias returned to the meeting room, finding Theseus in the same spot he sat before, his face facing the floor, he looked like he was thinking of something.??

Allias coughed, trying to get his attention as he stood at the door frame, his palm resting on the cold wood. The general raised his head, his skeptical expression disappearing fast as he met his eyes and he smiled. His eyes were so beautiful, a unique shade of purple. Allias loved looking at them, observing how they changed when the light did. He wished Theseus would step into the light more often, just so he could see the color of his eyes clearly, so his smile would not look sinister at the darkened background.??

"Can you please come out of the shadows? You look like a criminal." Allias said and the man laughed. He stepped into the light, showing the king how handsome he was. Allias approached him, grabbing a chair and sitting down. "Sit." he said and the man did as he was told.??

"What is it? You look very serious all of a sudden" Theseus commented as he noticed that Allias had a frown on his face. The elf drew circles on the table with his fingers, thinking how he should phrase what he wanted to say.

"Don't you think it's time?" Allias asked and the general blinked, confused.

"Time for what?"

"Time for you to step out of the shadows. Socialize, make people see you for who you are. You remember that seamstress. I don't want people to hate you, especially when you're such a good person." The king told him and took Theseus' hand in his.??

"Me? Good? Wait...wait let's just take it from the start." Theseus said with a faint grin. He didn't seem to realize that Allias was being serious.?? "I don't know why it's so bad that I like standing in the back. Also I do not care what they might think of me. I mean...as long as you know I am perfectly happy. Let them hate me. Also Allias, I am not really that good. I don't have the sense of justice or honor that you have. All I want to do is support you, I would do that even if you were a villain."

"These things you're saying,?? all of them are not true. You're good and you do care what people think of you. I remember your face back then. You felt bad and you were embarrassed. Why don't you try to step out, leave the insecurities behind and let people see you for who you really are. Outstanding and amazing and smart." Allias said with a comforting smile. "Come stand next to me, under the light, stop hiding because you're scared."

"I am not scared." Theseus stated with a childish tone that made Allias giggle. "I am simply not likeable and I have accepted that. There is no reason to try and change now."

"But you don't have to change, just be yourself. Theseus, do you have any friends?" Allias asked him in a scolding tone.

"Do you?" Theseus asked him back with a smirk.

"I have Mark. Also my situation is a bit different considering the fact that all of my friends are dead." he told him with a serious expression and Theseus nodded, realizing how insensitive his question was.??

"Sorry, sorry. But where is this coming from all of a sudden?"

"I don't want us to be stuck in the past. I want things to be better and I want both of us to do better. You need to overcome your fear and socialize. Not the kind of socializing you did when I met you though." Allias commented and Theseus laughed. "Make friends, make people like you. One day...one day we will get you know...married so you will be king number two and...you get my point." The king told him with a faint blush growing on his face. "But I don't want you to do this for me, I want it to be for you. I don't want you to feel lonely anymore. Dependant on me. I want you to have your own life, enjoy the things you like, have friends and be happy."

"What if I am happy now?" The general asked. Allias sighed, moving his head.??

"Of course you're happy. I was gone for years and now I am back. You can't get enough of me. The thing is Theseus, this excitement will one day end. We will have to stop the crazy adventures and return to our lives. I want you to have a life of your own. Be your own person, not just my guard dog in the shadows." he said. "You want to make friends. I know it."

"You always know everything." Theseus teased him.??

"Please, think about it. Isn't it lonely to always watch others from afar? To stand in the back and listen to them talk? You are so smart, so beautiful and so kind. You won't have a problem."

"Tell me really, why are you telling me all these? Don't get me wrong. I know that you care but this is a bit sudden isn't it? There has to be something behind it." The general said. It was unusual for Allias to insist so much for something so seemingly small. He would find other ways to make him do it, more cunning.??

"I don't know what you mean." Allias said, averting his green eyes from him and Theseus smiled.

"Allias? What are you scheming?" he asked.

"I just...I just wanted to prepare you psychologically. Because while I was at the gate a messenger came. We will have a youth day, in like two days and I will set you as the main speaker!" he told him.??

"You did what?" Theseus exclaimed.??

"You mean we will gather a bunch of teens here and I will have to look after them? Are you out of your mind? I always hated youth days? Why are we still doing them anyway?" the general asked.??

"Because we have to."

"No, because you want to torture me into making friends and being social. Come on now. What am?? I supposed to say? What am I supposed to do?" Theseus cried, being more worried than when he actually had to make a war plan. Kids, big kids. They were the worst.??

"I will be there too."??

"Yeah that's so comforting to hear."??

"Oh, there is something else I did not tell you." The king said with a bright smile.

"What?"

"I met a few Avgee elves on my journey and oh, the girl who is coming is my fiance. What a small world right?"

"Allias."

"Yes?"

"Get out please."

"Come on."

"Out, now."??

Allias' strategy to overwhelm him with information so he would be too stunned to get mad, had epically failed.